‘There Were Days I Did’: Stephen Curry Sometimes Thought LeBron James Would Sign With Golden State Warriors This Offseason
SAN FRANCISCO — Stephen Curry told Marc J. Spears of Andscape that he sometimes thought LeBron James would sign with the Golden State Warriors this offseason.
Curry and Draymond Green recruited James to the Warriors, but James signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.
“We took some shots at it,” Curry said. “There were days I did, days I didn’t. If this was high up on his list that we would have felt that. Until you hear the final decision, like you gotta think you have a shot. I guess a guy like that when you have the ability to go anywhere you want in the league, find a place that’s right for you.”
James made his 76ers debut on Tuesday (10/20) against the New York Knicks. The leading scorer in NBA history had 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in Philadelphia’s 106-100 win at Madison Square Garden.
Curry and the Warriors begin their season on Wednesday (10/21) against James’ old team, the Los Angeles Lakers.
Curry Signed Extension With Warriors
Curry, 38, signed a two-year, $116 million extension with the Warriors this offseason.
The future Hall of Famer plans to follow Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki by playing for only one NBA team.
“This is home,” Curry said at Warriors media day. “This is what we’ve built. This is a community that I’ve played in front of my entire career. Being able to finish the story the right way is a big part of what I can control.”
Curry was eligible for a two-year, $136.7 million extension.
The NBA legend took a pay cut to give the Warriors financial flexibility.
“There’s a pride of representing the Bay,” Curry said. “Representing this franchise that when I stepped foot here in 2009 and what we’ve all been able to accomplish — this isn’t just a me thing, this is a we — I want to do right by that. It’s always been an importance for me, and going into this contract decision, that was front of mind.”
Curry holds career averages of 24.8 points and 6.3 assists per game in the regular season and 26.8 points and 6.1 assists per game in the playoffs. He’s a four-time champion, two-time MVP and one-time Finals MVP.
A 12-time All-Star, Curry has made the most 3s in NBA history.
